Improvement in woven-wire bed-bottoms



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

GEORGE RICHARDSON, OF MILWAUKEE, VVISOONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WOVEN-WIRE BED-BOTTOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,644, dated August 29, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE RICHARDSON, of the city and county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Woven-Wire Mattresses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full7 clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this speciication, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, part of the wovenwire fabric being broken away to expose the stretching-roller and bracing devices. Fig. 2 is a vertical section transversely through the stretching-roller. Fig. 3 is a similar section through the foot-rail.

The same letters of reference are employed in the different figures to designate identical parts.

This invention relates to that class of wovenwire mattresses in which the fabric is stffened bythe introduction at suitable intervals of spiral metallic spring-cords. These cords have heretofore been woven into the Efrabric, and could, consequently, have no action in a longitudinal direction independent of the wires with which they are connected, the result of which is the form ation of comparatively unyieldin g ridges in a fabric thus made, which impairs the desirableness of the article, although the value of the stiffenin g feature, especially in a sin gleweft mattress, is acknowledged. My improvement consists in passing these spiral metallic sprin geords each through the oonvolutions of a single wire of the fabric, and thus provide for the independent longitudinal action of these stiifening-cords to overcome the above objection. It further consists in combining' the fabric thus made with a roller or drum for stretching it to any desired extent, andin devices for preventingthe springing of said drum.

The fabric may be made of single interlocking spirally-coiled wires, as shown at A, or as shown at A', where additional wires are introduced. The stift'ening-cords B are composed of closelycoiled spiral wire springs of one or more strands, as may be preferred, and each one is passed through the convolutions of one single wire of the fabric without being connected therewith in any manner.

The number of these cords in a fabric of this kind will be determined by the use to which it is to be applied. In mattresses two such cords should be used at each side, passing through adjacent wires, as shown.

The woven-wire fabric and the spiral-spring cords are at one end clamped separately between the two sections c c of the foot-rail of the frame O, and at the other end fastened in similar manner to the roller or drum C' of such frame, the roller being made in two sections for that purpose. The foot-rail and side-rails ofthe frame are firmly connected together by the castings D, and castings E are employed for the support of the journals of the roller O. The sections of the roller are made of wood, and its journals, being of cast-iron, are constructed with sockets for the reception of the ends of the sectional roller, and the socket of each has ratchet-teeth F upon its periphery, with which a pawl, F', hinged to the castings E, engages, as best seen in Fig. 2. The castings E are connected by a stay-rod or bar, G, arranged to place its edge nearest the roller in an inclined position. To prevent the spring of the roller after the fabric has been properly stretched, a wedge, H, is driven in between the roller and the stay-bar G. Should the fabric become more slack at one point tha-n another, such particular portion may be stretched independently of the rest by driving a short wedge, I, between the fabric and the roller or the footrail, as may be most convenient. The journals of the roller are suitably constructed to turn the roller by means of a crank or other device for stretching the woven-wire fabric.

It should be understood that the fabric shown at A in the drawing may be made of spiral wire springs, consisting each of two or more strands of wire, instead of one strand only.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a woven-wire fabric, constructed substantially as shown and described, the stiifening spiralspring cords B, when each of the latter is passed through the convolutions of one helix of wire of the fabric without being connected with such helix, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the sti'ening spiral- 1n testimony whereof I have signed' my name spring Cords with the Woven-Wire fabric, frame to this specification in the presence of two sub- C, and stretching-roller C', substantially as set scribing Witnesses. forth. GEO. RICHARDSON.

3. The combination of the frame C, stretoh- Witnesses: ing-roller Uf, stay-bar G, and Wedge H, substan- D. P. HOLLOWAY, tially as and for the purpose set forth. B. EDW. J. EELS. 

